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Ongoing Shortages

A French fry shortage is now expanding into a tomato shortage. The U.S. production of potatoes had been expanding even as the acres harvested declined due to increased yields. However, last year’s crop was reduced in size by high heat, and the crop being harvested this month was delayed by a cool spring that slowed growth. The Russet Burbank and Shepody varieties grown in Canada and the U.S. are prized globally for frying due to their low water content.   With global demand for French fries now expanding, the supply of potatoes and processing needs to be expanding, yet it has been flat at best. Now adding to the food supply concerns is a 5 to 10 percent cut in California tomato production due to this year’s droug...

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WPI Crop Progress and Conditions App (Updated 2 September)

Update for 28 April 2025: Last year, users pointed out differences between the 5-year averages reported in this app and what USDA estimates in its weekly report. The difference exists because WPI calculates average based on the last 5 years of observations for the current week. In cases where o...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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